Q Dental Cosmetic Dentistry
Your appearance is defined by your smile. Your self-confidence is dependent on your smile. Your smile is one-third of your face and one-half of your personality. Are you happy with your smile? Does it make you look older than you are? There’s no reason to hide behind less-than-perfect teeth. After all, a clean, healthy mouth and a beautiful smile are your best assets!
Our practice specializes in a wide array of cosmetic dentistry procedures, and we are devoted to giving you the look you desire, whether that requires delicate enhancement or more complex procedures. We cordially invite you for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Faucheu, who is always pleased to welcome new patients. The following are few of the cosmetic dentistry procedures we offer that are designed to beautify your smile:
Veneers
Dr. Faucheu is proud to offer porcelain veneers as an option to help you achieve a healthier looking, more beautiful smile. Veneers are thin porcelain shells that bond directly to the front of your teeth, covering stains, chips, and other imperfections. Because they are custom designed to match the size and color of your surrounding teeth, the results are completely natural looking and virtually undetectable to others. In addition, they are extremely comfortable and can even help correct a variety of bite problems, ultimately restoring both beauty and function.
One of the primary advantages of porcelain veneers is their resilience. The porcelain material is strong, durable, and highly stain resistant. With proper care, your veneers will give you a flawless, confident smile for many years to come.
If you would like to schedule a consultation to find out if porcelain veneers are the best option for you, please contact our office.
Crowns
Porcelain crowns – or “caps”, as they are sometimes called – are an excellent way to repair and strengthen badly damaged teeth. Like veneers, they dramatically improve the appearance of your teeth; however, unlike veneers, they cover the entire surface area of the tooth, helping to prevent weaker teeth from cracking or breaking. By strengthening these weaker teeth, they effectively reduce or eliminate pain, sensitivity, and difficulty with chewing and speaking. They are also commonly used to keep errant fillings in place.
Whatever else their function, they will mask imperfections in the teeth, giving you a more pleasing, attractive smile.
Teeth Whitening
Dr. Faucheu is particularly please to offer the revolutionary Zoom! (As seen on ABC’s hit show Extreme Makeover) This system is ideal for those who want dramatically whiter teeth with minimal investment of time. The procedure usually takes about two hours from beginning to end and produces immediate results. In most cases, teeth become at least six to ten shades whiter, with some patients experiencing even further improvement in the days following the procedure. You will leave our office with a brilliant new smile and none of the inconvenience associate with at-home tray bleaching systems.
If you would like to find out if this revolutionary tooth whitening technology is right for you, please contact Dr. Faucheu’s office today to arrange an initial consultation. We are always happy to hear from prospective patients and to answer any questions you may have
Bridges
As its name implies, a porcelain dental bridge literally bridges the gap where a tooth is missing. The bridge consists of an artificial tooth and two porcelain crowns, one for each natural tooth on either side of the gap. Dr. Faucheu customizes the bridge to fit snugly and comfortably in your mouth, fixing it into place so that it cannot fall out or be removed by hand. The results are remarkably natural looking and extremely strong, allowing you to eat, speak, and smile with full confidence.
Permanent Fixed Bridge
A Permanent Bridge replaces one or more missing teeth. A Bridge will:
- Keep teeth from drifting into the space created from a missing tooth
- Help preserve normal function and normal bite for the jaw joint
A Permanent Bridge is usually anchored to the teeth on both sides of the space from the missing tooth. This gives the bridge strong support. Brushing a bridge is no different than brushing natural teeth, but special flossing instructions are given to keep the bridge and surrounding tissue healthy.
Before After - Bridge and Crown
A Permanent Bridge is permanently bonded in place, unlike a Partial Denture (sometimes called a “Removable Bridge”), which is removable
Bonding
A fast, effective alternative to veneers and crowns, dental bonding produces exceptional results in as little as a single office visit. During the procedure, Dr. Faucheu places a strong tooth-colored resin material onto your tooth, sculpting and polishing it until it is indistinguishable from your surrounding natural teeth. When exposed to a high-intensity ultraviolet light, the resin hardens, and the procedure is complete. The bonding material, while not as durable or stain resistant as the porcelain used in veneers and crowns, will endure for years with proper care. In any event, the immediate and visually stunning results make dental bonding ideal for many patients. One of the most frequent uses of the bonding technique is to fill in a gap between front teeth
Orthodontics (Invisalign)
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without metal, wires, or brackets, making treatment far more comfortable. Invisalign can treat the same problems traditional braces can, including crookedness, crowding, and gaps between teeth.
Invisalign trays are made of clear plastic, so they are practically invisible when they are on your teeth. Because they are removable, they can be taken out while eating, drinking or brushing and flossing.
How Does Invisalign Work?
The Invisalign treatment consists of a series of snap-on, custom fit, removable mouth trays, or aligners that apply a controlled amount of force to your teeth, forcing them to shift
As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move- little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position Dr. Faucheu has prescribed.
You’ll visit Dr. Faucheu about once every 4-6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
Total treatment time averages 9 – 15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 – 30, but both will vary from case to case.
Invisalign is only available from trained, certified dentists like Dr. Faucheu, so you can be sure you are receiving quality care.
White fillings
White fillings replace silver or gold fillings with a more natural looking tooth-colored material. Since teeth are translucent, dark fillings cause the whole tooth to appear darker when viewed from the side. Replacing older dark fillings with white fillings will keep your smile glowing!
Dental Implants
What are Implants?
Dental Implants have been used successfully for many years. The implant itself is a post that surgically placed in the jaw. Prosthesis (artificial tooth or teeth) is then attached to the post.
What are Dental Implants Used For?
There are two basic uses for Dental Implants
- 1. As an artificial root for a single tooth replacement.
- 2. As anchor for a fixed or removable prosthesis to replace multiple teeth.
What are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
With the exception of your natural teeth, nothing looks more natural than an implant. One important benefit of implants is that they slow the shrinking of bone and gum tissue from the area of the missing tooth, thus preventing premature aging.
- Of Americans between the ages of 18 and 64, approximately 49% are missing at least one tooth.
- Dental Implants are the most advance tooth replacement system devised.
- More than nine out of ten Implants last longer than 15 years.
- Dental Implants never develop decay.
- Dental Implants never require root canals.
- Dental Implants preserve the jawbone, which can prevent premature aging.
- No one can be disqualified for Implants treatment solely because of their age -- some patients receive implant treatment when they are in their nineties!
How are Dental Implants Placed?
Step One:
The gum is gently folded back and a space is prepared for the implant to be placed
Step Two:
The dental implant “anchor” is put into place.
Step Three:
A temporary cap is placed on the implant and the gum tissue is repositioned around the implant. The implant is left alone for several months so the bone can attach to the implant and create a secure anchor.
Restorative Phase:
Step One:
After the implant has had a chance to attach to the bone tissue, the temporary cap is removed fromthe anchor and a post is attached to the anchor.
Step Two:
The implant is now ready for prosthesis. An impression is taken of the implant and the appropriate prosthesis (Crown, Bridge or Overdenture) is made
Step Three:
The prosthesis is then attached to the implant(s).
Considering a Dental Implant?
If you are considering a dental implant, Contact us for an evaluation appointment. Dr Faucheu will perform an evaluation to determine whether you a good candidate for a dental implant. If you are a good candidate for an implant, Dr. Faucheu will provide you with further information to help you decide.
Dentures
When most or all your natural teeth have been lost, dentures provide many benefits:
- Restore your self-esteem
- Regain your eating ability
- Aid speaking ability
- Give support back to the lips and cheeks,(giving you a natural and younger appearance).
A Complete Denture is placed in the patient's mouth after all the teeth have been extracted and the gum tissue has healed. Healing takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending upon the patient.
An Overdenture usually requires that at least 2 roots be kept. These roots may be used to hold the denture in place by placing inserts in the roots and in the denture. The denture then attaches to the roots. These roots also give support to the denture and help retain the ridge the denture sits on.
An Implant-Retained Denture is similar to an Overdenture, but uses implants as anchors.
An Immediate Denture is placed the same day the teeth are extracted. The advantage to an Immediate Denture is that the patient does not have to be without teeth during the healing period.
A Partial Denture or "removable bridge" replaces one or more missing teeth, but there must be teeth remaining for the partial to attach to. Unlike a Fixed Bridge, a partial is removable. A partial will prevent other teeth from shifting, preserving your remaining teeth.
Dr. Faucheu will evaluate your condition and needs to help you determine the option that is best for you.